Ep. 07: Digitization Brings Transparency, Efficiency, & Trust with Todd Polen and Scooter Sayers
Release Date: 06/27/2023
Ep. 16: Boosting Supply Chain Efficiency Through Must Arrive By Dates with Greg Plemmons & Chris Kelley of OD
Cargo Shorts
Must Arrive By Date (MABD) shipping has become a cornerstone for retailers and supply chains alike. Born out of the need for efficiency and precision, MABD’s mandate that freight must be delivered within highly specific date and time windows. There are strict penalties for non-compliance, presenting challenges for shippers. Understanding and navigating these requirements is essential for those involved in the movement of goods. Host Samantha Jones of SJ Consulting, is joined by Greg Plemmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Chris Kelley, Senior Vice President...
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Ep. 15: The Evolving Supply Chain with Greg Plemmons of OD & Dr. Thomas Goldsby of the University of Tennessee
Cargo Shorts
The domestic supply chain has changed in ways few could predict. It has rebuilt itself in new, dynamic ways, with a stronger version of Just-in-Time shipping emerging. It is called “Just-in-Time 2.0.” This new model keeps the best parts of the old system while focusing on shorter, resilient lines of transport with greater redundancy. Host Jonathan Betz is joined by Dr. Thomas Goldsby, the Professor of Supply Chain Management at Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, and Greg Plemmons, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Old Dominion...
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Ep. 14: Accurate Dimensions Affect the Bottom Line with Todd Polen of OD & Glenn Zalusky of Rice Lake Weighing Systems
Cargo Shorts
Every inch counts when it comes to shipping, and accurate dimensioning can tip the scales in your favor. When weighing options, precise pallet dimensioning can make shipping faster and more efficient while reducing surprises on the final bill. Host Jonathan Betz is joined by Todd Polen, Vice President of Pricing Systems at Old Dominion, and Glenn Zalusky, the Vice President of Strategic Business at Rice Lake Weighing Systems to discuss the benefits of accurate measurements. Their conversation explores how accurate pallet dimensioning is a game changer for the LTL industry, the...
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Ep. 13: Packaging Sciences: Exploring the Future with Clemson Univ.’s Dr. Greg Batt & Geoff Stephany of OD
Cargo Shorts
Whether you are shipping across the country or around the world, the right packaging makes all the difference. As the emphasis on sustainability intensifies, the industry is rapidly evolving, with data playing a vital role. But cost and fragility of freight are factors that need to be considered. Host Jonathan Betz is joined by Dr. Greg Batt, an Associate Professor of Packaging Sciences at Clemson University, and the director of the Sunoco Package Testing Laboratory in the Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences Department. Dr. Batt holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in...
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Ep. 12: Emerging Technologies, API Standardization, and the Future of LTL Shipping with OD’s Barry Craver and NMFTA’s Paul Dugent
Cargo Shorts
Automation and digitization are rapidly transforming the LTL industry, enabling greater transparency and visibility. Seamless technology fosters improved planning, pricing, service, and relationships among carriers and shippers. Host Jonathan Betz speaks with Barry Craver, VP of Technology at Old Dominion, who served OD on the business side for twenty years and took responsibility for IT in 2023, and Paul Dugent, Executive Director of the Digital LTL Council under the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Paul is responsible for bringing together LTL motor carriers, technology...
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Ep. 11: How Can Shippers Use Data to Guide Their Decision-Making? With OD CEO Marty Freeman and Mastio’s Kevin Huntsman
Cargo Shorts
The findings from Mastio’s annual study of LTL carriers help shippers evaluate carriers based on many important attributes. Shippers need to choose the right partner when selecting a carrier. Shippers want to ensure that their freight will make it to their customers on time and damage-free. What tools are available to help shippers choose the right carrier for their business? How can collecting independent, third-party logistics data assist them with the decisions? Host Jonathan Betz speaks with Kevin Huntsman, the president of Mastio & Company, a market research consulting...
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Ep. 10: Unpacking the Freight Classification System with Expert Erin Topper
Cargo Shorts
Understanding freight classification is a critical part of the shipping process. If freight is not properly classified or wrong item numbers are used, the most accurate rates may not be applied, which can lead to an unwelcome surprise on the final bill. Understanding these classifications is critical to a business, but why is it a struggle for some, and what can be done to improve the system to streamline LTL shipments? In this episode, hear from Old Dominion’s Director of Pricing Services, Erin Topper. Erin spent 18 years at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA),...
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Ep. 09: Holiday Shipping Season Expectations with Rutgers Business School’s Dr. Tony Bell and OD’s Steve Hartsell
Cargo Shorts
Customer expectations are growing as economic stress factors remain, giving rise to an uncertain holiday season. Retailers face their peak period during this season of shopping and shipping. This year appears to be shaping up like few others. Inflation remains a concern, interest rates continue to rise, and retailers are worried about weakened spending. So, where do things stand now? Do shippers expect this season to be naughty or nice? In this episode, hear from the Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers Business School, Dr. Tony Bell. Dr. Bell has 30 years of...
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Ep. 08: Navigating Retail Supply Chains with Former Walmart Executive Joe Metzger and OD’s Greg Plemmons
Cargo Shorts
How can carriers evolve to navigate retail supply chain complexities and future consumer expectations? The pandemic caused a seismic shift in the industry and resulted in systemic changes to traditional retail supply chain strategies. What lessons did we learn and where have we landed to better meet customer demands? In this episode hear from Joe Metzger, former Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Operations at Walmart and 30 year veteran in consumer product goods supply chain leadership at Kraft Foods and The Kellogg Company. Greg Plemmons is the Executive VP & Chief...
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Ep. 07: Digitization Brings Transparency, Efficiency, & Trust with Todd Polen and Scooter Sayers
Cargo Shorts
There are many reasons for shippers and carriers to share information including better planning, better pricing, and cost savings. It benefits all parties to work together to improve transparency, efficiency, and trust. Business expectations are rapidly changing, therefore it is important to come together to talk about using digitalization in transportation and how it can lead to enhanced visibility and transparency. Joining host Jonathan Betz are Todd Polen, the VP of Pricing Services for Old Dominion Freight Line, and Scooter Sayers, President of Sayers Logistics, an LTL Consultancy....
info_outlineThere are many reasons for shippers and carriers to share information including better planning, better pricing, and cost savings. It benefits all parties to work together to improve transparency, efficiency, and trust. Business expectations are rapidly changing, therefore it is important to come together to talk about using digitalization in transportation and how it can lead to enhanced visibility and transparency.
Joining host Jonathan Betz are Todd Polen, the VP of Pricing Services for Old Dominion Freight Line, and Scooter Sayers, President of Sayers Logistics, an LTL Consultancy. In this discussion, they address how clarity can lead to benefits such as improved planning, better communication or sharing of information, and most importantly increased trust between companies and customers.
Key Takeaways:
How digitization helps to improve transparency in business operations. [0:47]
How will the NMFTA’s new single standard eBOL benefit the transportation industry, and how is Old Dominion responding? [6:08]
How will digitization help control business costs in the transportation industry? [9:40]
How should carriers help shippers digitize their operations? [11:00]
What is missing in the relationship between shippers and carriers, and how can a “Shipper Scorecard” remedy the issue? [13:21]
Where are the friction points for adopting new technologies in the transportation industry? [16:47]
What is the future of transparency and pricing within the shipping industry? [21:30]
Shareables:
“When you have transparency, when you have visibility through digitization, that’s going to help you reduce errors. It’s going to help you get big data fast in the fields that you need to operate with. It turns events and exceptions into actionable data that you can actually work with and it promotes standardization.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
“If a carrier can reduce their cost by saving fuel, by not having to add labor as they grow, they can offer better pricing to their customers. So it’s a win-win for everybody.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
“We’ve actually adopted, I think we’ve got it with about 10 or 12 customers now, a digital scorecard. In other words, how well are they doing at integrating with us digitally? Are we getting a bill of lading digitally? If we are, what is the quality of the data that we get?” — Todd Polen, VP of Pricing Services, Old Dominion Freight Line
“I think a great place to start is incentivizing everyone to pull out all of these exceptions, all of this friction, all of the sand in the gears and eliminate this administrative burden for everyone.” — Scooter Sayers, President, Sayers Logistics & LTL Consultancy
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